Apparatus for protecting hvac units

ABSTRACT

A HVAC unit protector apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a front panel, a left sidewall that maybe connected to a left side of the front panel such that the left sidewall may fold into the front panel, a right sidewall that maybe connected to a right side of the front panel such that the right sidewall may fold into the front panel, and a top panel that maybe connected to a top side of the front panel such that the top panel may fold into the front panel. The left sidewall, the right sidewall, and the top panel may be connected to the front panel via a plurality of hinges. Further, extendable arms maybe disposed at a top end and a bottom end of the left sidewall and the right sidewall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.63/312,846 entitled “Casing Structure for Hvac Systems with EfficientVentilation”, filed Feb. 23, 2022, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.63/345,163 entitled “Foldable Casing Structure with Hinges for OutdoorUnits of HVAC Systems”, filed May 24, 2022, U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 63/391,866 entitled “Casing Structure for HVAC Systems withSupporting Legs”, filed Jul. 25, 2022, U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 63/418,485 entitled “FOLDABLE CASING Structure for HVAC Systems withCurved Edges”, filed Oct. 22, 2022, which are incorporated herein intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a casing structure for HVACsystems, and More particularly relates to housing or enclosures orprotective installations in which outdoor air conditioning equipment orheat pump unit is placed at unconventional positions.

BACKGROUND

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems include Airconditioners, generally referred to as AC, a cooling system or heatingpumps used for keeping the houses warm. ACs are popularly used to cooldown the temperature in an inside space by removing the existing heatand moisture from the room. This is primarily done by taking warm airinto the system and dispersing cold air. There are different types ofACs available in the market, which includes split system ACs, packagedACs and central air conditioning systems. The split system AC consistsof both indoor and outdoor units. The outdoor unit is fixed on or nearthe exterior wall of the desired room and the indoor unit is installedof the wall of the room and thereafter, both units are connected withwires and tubing. The packaged AC system, having higher coolingcapacity, works by installing the single component and connecting theducts laid throughout various rooms. Central air conditioning systemsare generally used to cool large homes or buildings such as gyms oroffices. This system works with the help of a cooling compressor, whichis located outside.

A heat pump, on the other hand, is a system which can be used either forheating or cooling an enclosed space or domestic water by transferthermal energy from a cooler environ ent to a warmer environment usingthe refrigeration cycle, i.e. by moving heat in the opposite directionin which heat transfer would take place without the application ofexternal power. When used for cooling a building, a heat pump works likean air conditioner by transferring heat from inside the building to theoutdoors and when used for heating a building, the heat pump operates inreverse, i.e. heat is transferred into the building from the outdoorenvironment. Heat pumps are generally placed outside the building,mostly in open spaces either in the roof, garden or balcony.

As either the AC system or the heat pump units have parts which areinstalled outside the building, these parts require protection fromenvironmental as well as man-made artificial damages like theft etc. Theconventional protection units for these external or outdoor parts werewooden coverings, metal coverings and to an extent cloth coverings havebeen used. Moreover, conventional casings may not be able to secure theunits if they are placed at a distance from the wall unlike standardinstallations.

Outdoor units of HVAC systems are critical components that areresponsible for exchanging heat with the environment, thereby enablingthe system to regulate indoor temperature and maintain comfortableliving conditions. However, these outdoor units are often exposed tovarious environmental factors, such as rain, snow, dust, and otherdebris, which can cause significant damage and affect their performance.

The problems with unprotected outdoor units of HVAC systems includecorrosion of metal components, clogging of air filters, damage to fanblades, and electrical components, among other issues. These problemsnot only compromise the efficiency of the system but can also lead tocomplete breakdowns and costly repairs or replacements.

Moreover, unprotected outdoor units also create safety hazards, as theexposure of electrical components to water or moisture can lead toelectrocution or fire hazards. Additionally, outdoor units that areexposed to the elements can produce excessive noise and create aneyesore that can be an inconvenience to neighbours and diminish the curbappeal of a property.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,328,862B2 discloses a multifunctional stand including amain rod; an adapting platform arranged at the upper end of the main rodand adapted to fix photographic or video shooting equipment; and asupporting seat arranged at the lower end of the main rod and used forsupporting the main rod; at the lower end of the main rod is provided afirst connecting structure, and at the upper end of the supporting seatis provided a second connecting structure; the first connectingstructure and the second connecting structure are detachably connectedwith each other; and the second connecting structure is adapted to mountthe adapting platform.

US20040263032A1 discloses a stand including a stand body of apredetermined height having an opening in one side, a drawer for pushingin or pulling out through the opening in the stand body to open/closethe opening, a guide device for smooth pushing in/pulling out of thedrawer, and a self locking device for automatic locking of the drawerwhen the drawer is inserted in the stand more than a certain depth, andpreventing slipping out of the drawer even if the stand is tilted.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,814B2 discloses a stand with at least three standlegs (2, 3, 4), which is embodied to fasten a leveling, plumbing, orangular calibration device (5), is provided, with the stand legs (2, 3,4) being embodied rotational around a common axis (6) at their endsfacing each other. Each stand leg (2, 3, 4) is bent by the same angle(α) at a distance from the axis (6), with a freely projecting section(14) of one leg being provided with a threaded bolt (15) freelyprotruding transversely thereto.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,498B2 discloses a cabinet for air handling equipmentincludes two similarly sized covers that are each non-symmetrical abouttheir vertical centre-line. Each cover has an original supply or returnair duct opening plus space for an alternate opening. The original andalternate openings are of different shapes to accommodate round orrectangular ducts. The two covers can be interchanged with each otherand inverted to provide various supply and return air ductconfigurations.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,418A discloses an outside coil unit for a heat pumpwhich includes a refrigerant coil with a protective grille, the verticaledges of the grille being held by posts which are tilted outwardly atthe bottom to accordingly tilt the grille outwardly at the bottom sothat ice and frost build-up on the coil is not impeded in falling offthe coil during defrost cycles.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,969A discloses a cabinet structure representativelycomprises a coil housing positioned atop a return housing. Each housingis formed from initially flat inner and outer sheet metal panels havingrectangular configurations and various transverse projections thereonwhich permit the panels to be nested in a spaced apart, laterally facingrelationship. Opposite end portions of the nested panels are thentransversely bent in the same direction to form from the nested panelsthree interconnected sides of the housing, and the outer ends of thebent panel structure are secured together by elongated metal joiningmembers extended across the resulting open fourth side of the housing.The transverse projections on the bent panel members automaticallycooperate to hold them together and to maintain the insulating air spacetherebetween. To complete each housing a hollow, double-walled metalaccess panel is removably secured to the outer ends of the bent panelsand extends across the open fourth side of the housing.

While a number of prior art documents disclose the protectioninstallations of the HVAC equipment, they do not address the issues ofinstallations which will adapt to units placed at unconventionalpositions owing to infrastructural limitations. Therefore, it will beadvantageous to provide a solution that is compact in nature and may beadapted to different environmental conditions as well as infrastructurallimitations. The current solutions available for protecting outdoorunits are often inadequate, expensive, or aesthetically unpleasing.Therefore, the present invention aims to address the issues faced byunprotected outdoor units of HVAC systems by providing a new andimproved solution that is effective, cost-efficient, and visuallyappealing.

SUMMARY

In light of the disadvantages mentioned in the previous section, thefollowing summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some ofthe innovative features unique to the present invention and is notintended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the variousaspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entirespecification and drawings as a whole. Embodiments described hereindiscloses a casing structure that allows users to use the same casingstructure for various sizes of the concrete pad which is used forplacing the HVAC equipment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure proposes a HVAC unit protectorcomprising a front panel, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, and a toppanel. The left sidewall maybe connected to a left side of the frontpanel such that the left sidewall folds into the front panel. Further,the right sidewall maybe connected to a right side of the front panelsuch that the right sidewall folds into the front panel. The top panelmaybe connected to a top side of the front panel such that the top panelfolds into the front portion. The left sidewall, the right sidewall, andthe top panel are connected to the front portion via a plurality ofhinges. Furthermore, the apparatus may comprise extendable arms thatmaybe disposed at a top end and a bottom end of the left sidewall andthe right sidewall. The arms may be extended and retracted to allowinstallation of the unit over HVAC units installed at a fixed distancefrom supporting structures.

This summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some exampleembodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects ofthe subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciatedthat the above-described features are merely examples and should not beconstrued to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter describedherein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of thesubject matter described herein will become apparent from the followingdetailed description and figures. The abovementioned embodiments andfurther variations of the proposed invention are discussed in further inthe detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 discloses a front left perspective view 100 of the HVAC unitprotector apparatus according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 discloses a rear left perspective view 200 of the HVAC unitprotector apparatus according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 3 & 4 discloses a perspective views 300 & 400 of the HVAC unitprotector apparatus in a fully folded configuration according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 discloses a perspective view 500 of the HVAC unit protectorapparatus with the top portion in an unfolded state and the sidewalk ina folded state according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 discloses a left side perspective view 600 of the HVAC unitprotector apparatus according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 discloses a perspective view 700 of the HVAC unit protectingapparatus with the sidewalls and the top portion in an unfoldedconfiguration and the extendable arms in an extended configurationaccording to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary depiction 800 of the supporting leg that may beattached to the HVAC unit protector apparatus according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the embodiments of the invention,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments inwhich the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the present invention. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of thepresent invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) inseveral locations. This does not necessarily imply that each suchreference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only appliesto a single embodiment. Single feature of different embodiments may alsobe combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. Itwill be further understood that the terms “includes”. “comprises”,“including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elementsand/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It willbe further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a casingstructure is disclosed that allows users to encase outdoor HVAC units,wherein the casing structure is foldable in nature.

In one embodiment, the HVAC unit protector comprises a front panel, aleft sidewall, a right sidewall, and a top panel. The left sidewallmaybe connected to a left side of the front panel such that the leftsidewall folds into the front panel. Further, the right sidewall maybeconnected to a right side of the front panel such that the rightsidewall folds into the front panel. The top panel maybe connected to atop side of the front panel such that the top panel folds into the frontportion. The left sidewall, the right sidewall, and the top panel areconnected to the front portion via a plurality of hinges. Furthermore,the apparatus may comprise extendable arms that maybe disposed at a topend and a bottom end of the left sidewall and the right sidewall. Thearms may be extended and retracted to allow installation of the unitover HVAC units installed at a fixed distance from supportingstructures.

The proposed solution promotes a strong, sturdy and stable covering overthe outdoor HVAC unit thus protecting it from all natural and man-madedamages. The casing can be adjusted as per the size of the concrete padon which the HVAC unit is placed. The presence of slots in the panelscontinues to provide air circulation. Further, the proposed solution canbe used for any HVAC unit, such as an air conditioner or a heat pump.Further, the panels are portable and easily attachable/detachable aswell.

In the present disclosure, the term “encasing”, “casing”, “casingstructure”, “covering”, and “protection installation” may be usedinterchangeably to refer to the invention. The terms used herein do notrestrict the scope of the present invention. The terms used herein coverall possible technical solutions as understood by a person skilled inthe art.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the casingstructure on the HVAC unit comprises of foldable panels with curvededges on the top side of the front panel. The unit may comprise fourpanels, one left panel, one right panel, one front panel and one toppanel. The left and right panel are almost of the same size. The frontpanel is a rectangular shaped panel with curved edges on its top side.The top panel is a flat rectangular structure with or without horizontalslots. The casing structure may have hinges on its edges to allowfolding of the panel thereby making it compact in nature. The foldableform factor of the apparatus makes it portable and further makes it easyto store and transport.

The front panel and top panel may be connected via a pair of hinges thatallow them to fold into each other. The sidewalk and the front panel hashinges on its sides again allowing them to fold into each other. Thehinges allow easy and convenient folding and unfolding of the panelsonto each other. Furthermore, fasteners may be used to secure the panelsdisallowing them to swivel when they are placed in an openconfiguration.

In one example, the edges of the side panels are curved accordingly tomatch with the curvature of the top side of the front panel as depictedin the figures. It may be noted that the present disclosure coverspanels that are not curved in nature as well.

FIG. 1 discloses a front left perspective view 100 of the HVAC unitprotector apparatus and FIG. 2 discloses a rear left perspective view200 of the HVAC unit protector apparatus. The left sidewall 104, theright sidewall 106, and the top panel 108 fold into the front panel 102.FIGS. 3 & 4 discloses a perspective views 300 &. 400 of the HVAC unitprotector apparatus in a fully folded configuration. FIG. 5 discloses aperspective view 500 of the HVAC unit protector apparatus with the topportion in an unfolded state and the sidewalls in a folded state. It maybe noted that the apparatus is compact in nature while in a fully foldedstate making it portable and easily carriable. The apparatus may usevery less space thereby making logistics easier. The hinged version alsomakes sure that users need not worry about installation and it can beeasily folded/unfolded.

FIG. 6 discloses a left side perspective view 600 of the HVAC unitprotector apparatus. FIG. 7 discloses a perspective view 700 of the HVACunit protecting apparatus with the sidewalls and the top portion in anunfolded configuration and the extendable arms 702 in an extendedconfiguration according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Asdisclosed, the arms may be extended/retracted out/in from the rearportion of the apparatus. The arms are secured within the sidewalls ofthe apparatus and the length maybe varied by means of fasteners. FIG. 8is an exemplary depiction 800 of the supporting leg 802 that may beattached to the HVAC unit protector apparatus. The supporting legs maybe installed when the unit is to be used with HVAC unit that areinstalled at a particular height from the ground.

Angle bars or any other fastening means maybe used to strengthen theconnection between the front panel and the left and right sidewalls whenthe left and right sidewalls are in an unfolded configuration. By usingangle bars to reinforce the HVAC protector units, the structuralintegrity of the apparatus maybe improved. The angle bars maybe attachedto the unit's frame or casing to provide additional support andresistance against external forces. They may also be used to create aprotective barrier around the unit, shielding it from direct exposure tothe elements. In addition to providing added strength and protection,angle bars may also be used to improve the overall appearance of theHVAC unit. They can be painted or coated to match the color of the unit,creating a more seamless and aesthetically pleasing look. Overall, theuse of angle bars in HVAC units can help to extend the lifespan of theequipment, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure that the units continueto function properly, even in harsh weather conditions.

There are several advantages to using angle bars to connect the panelsof the HVAC protector unit apparatus including:

Improved Strength: Angle bars are designed to provide structural supportand are capable of withstanding significant amounts of weight andpressure. By using angle bars to connect the frames of a HVAC unitprotector apparatus, the overall strength and durability of theapparatus can be improved, making it more resistant to damage and wearover time.

Versatility: Angle bars can be cut and shaped to fit specific dimensionsand angles, allowing them to be easily customized to meet the specificneeds of a HVAC unit protector apparatus. This versatility can make iteasier to design and construct the apparatus to fit the uniquerequirements of the HVAC unit.

Ease of Installation: Angle bars can be easily bolted or weldedtogether, making them a quick and efficient option for connecting theframes of a HVAC unit protector apparatus. This ease of installation cansave time and reduce labor costs during the construction process.

Reduced Maintenance: By using angle bars to connect the frames of a HVACunit protector apparatus, the overall structure can be made more rigidand stable, reducing the likelihood of the apparatus shifting orbecoming misaligned over time. This can help to reduce the need forongoing maintenance and adjustments to the apparatus.

Aesthetics: Angle bars can be painted or coated to match the color ofthe HVAC unit protector apparatus, creating a more uniform andaesthetically pleasing appearance.

Furthermore, supporting legs maybe connected to bottom corners of theHVAC unit when the left and right sidewalls are in an unfoldedconfiguration. The supporting legs may allow the unit to be installedupon HVAC units that are installed at a height from the ground. Theextendable arms extend out and retract in to/from the HVAC unit. Thearms allow the unit to be installed with HVAC units that are installedat a distance from the supporting walls. The extendable arms are capableof being locked at a plurality of length configurations using a lockingmechanism provided within the left and right sidewalls.

The sidewalk of the apparatus may be provided with a fixed connector aswell as an extendable connector. The fixed connectors cannot bedisplaced or moved and will be provided near the rear portion of theside panels. The fixed connectors may have slots into which screws maybe fastened to fix the casing onto the supporting structure (forexample, a wall). The fixed connectors may be used as a lockingmechanism to mounting the apparatus and locking them at a fixedposition. The fixed connectors may further be provided with slots intowhich fasteners may be used to the fix the apparatus onto the supportingstructure such as a wall. Fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts, and thelike, may be used as the locking mechanism.

Additionally, the extendable connectors provided on the side panels maybe extendable unto a fixed length thereby allowing the casing to beinstalled onto outdoor units that are installed at a distance from thesupporting structure such as a wall. The extendable connectors mayfurther be provided with slots into which fasteners may be used to thefix the apparatus onto the supporting structure such as a wall.Fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts, and the like, may be used as thelocking mechanism for the extendable connectors as well.

One of the key advantages of wall mounted casing structures is theirability to provide a secure and stable base for HVAC units. By mountingthe units on the walls of the building, the need for separate supportstructures, such as concrete pads, can be eliminated. This can help tosave space and reduce installation costs.

The apparatus encloses the units from all sides thereby protecting theunit from physical wear and tear, environmental factors, and the like.At the same time, the apparatus does not block the ventilation requiredfor the outdoor units. While conventional apparatuses provide ventilatedframes on one or more side portions, the proposed apparatus providesventilated frames on sides as well as top side of the apparatus. Inconventional casing apparatuses, the top side portion of the apparatusmay generally be enclosed thereby blocking airflow that is generatedfrom within the outdoor units. Ideally, air is taken in from the sideportions and is blown out from the top portion in most outdoor units ofair-conditioners. The all-round ventilation system provided by theproposed apparatus allows easy air-flow into the outdoor unit from allits sides and further allows gentle outflow of exhaust air from the topside of the apparatus via the louvers provided on the top panel.Complementing louvers may be provided on the side portions and topportions of the apparatus so as the allow easy inflow and outflow of airto and from the units disposed within the proposed apparatus.

It may be noted that the above-described examples of the presentsolution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solutionhas been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof,numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing fromthe teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein.Other substitutions, modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present solution. All the featuresdisclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or processso disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinationswhere at least some of such features and/or steps are mutuallyexclusive.

The terms “include,” “have,” and variations thereof, as used herein,have the same meaning as the term “comprise” or appropriate variationthereof. Furthermore, the term “based on”, as used herein, means “basedat least in part on.” Thus, a feature that is described as based on somestimulus can be based on the stimulus or a combination of stimuliincluding the stimulus.

The present description has been shown and described with reference tothe foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms,details, and examples can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the present subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A HVAC unit protector comprising: front panel, aleft sidewall connected to a left side of the front panel such that theleft sidewall folds into the front panel, a right sidewall connected toa right side of the front panel such that the right sidewall folds intothe front panel, and a top panel connected to a top side of the frontpanel such that the top panel folds into the front panel, wherein theleft sidewall, the right sidewall, and the top panel are connected tothe front panel via a plurality of hinges; and extendable arms disposedat a top end and a bottom end of the left sidewall and the rightsidewall.
 2. The HVAC unit protector of claim 1, wherein angle bars areused to strengthen the connection between the front panel and the leftand right sidewalls when the left and right sidewalls are in an unfoldedconfiguration.
 3. The HVAC unit protector of claim 1, further comprisingsupporting legs connected to bottom corners of the HVAC unit when theleft and right sidewalls are in an unfolded configuration.
 4. The HVACunit protector of claim 1, wherein the extendable arms extend out fromthe HVAC unit.
 5. The HVAC unit protector of claim 4, wherein theextendable arms retract into the HVAC unit.
 6. The HVAC unit protectorof claim 5, wherein the extendable arms are capable of being locked at aplurality of length configurations using a locking mechanism providedwithin the left and right sidewalls.